Man behind online escort service jailed for controlling prostitution in Sussex

A man from South Wales has been jailed for exploiting a Sussex woman for the purposes of prostitution. Peter Drury, of Wellfield Avenue, Neath, South Wales, was sentenced to one year and four months imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on January 23. The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to controlling prostitution between 2013 and 2019 at Crawley Magistrates' Court in November last year. It follows an investigation conducted by the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit, which began when a 26-year-old woman, living in West Sussex, contacted officers in April 2019. Police said Drury, who also lived in Kent, first contacted the 'already isolated and vulnerable' woman on a dating website. During a period of around six months Drury used the woman, and others, to provide sexual services for money to men across the South East and South Wales. He set himself up as an online escort service, called 'Zara's Escorts', and took the woman to men who had contacted him for his 'services', taking 50% of all that was earned. The court also heard that detectives found evidence that several other women had worked for Drury as prostitutes, but only one of those was identified and she did not wish to give evidence. DC Andy Roe said: "Drury systematically preyed on and exploited this very vulnerable woman for his own financial purposes. "It is also clear that he gained sexual pleasure from the arrangement as well, though there was insufficient evidence to show that any criminal offence was committed in relation to that. "As soon as she came to us we immediately began enquiries and traced Drury and we are glad that this exploitative man has now been brought to justice. "His conviction and sentencing sends the message that we will always pursue reports of anyone having been exploited for sexual or any other sinister purpose. "If you or anyone you know is being exploited or assaulted, we can be contacted at any time and arrangements can be made for you to talk to experienced investigators. "Our investigation of his activities has not yet finished, however. "Our financial experts are carrying out an in-depth examination of his finances with a view to making a court application at a later date under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) for confiscation of any assets we can show have been the result of his criminal activity."

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